A powerful low pressure system lifted out of the Desert Southwest and across the southern Plains during the early morning hours of February 12th, 2020. Snow overspread southern Kansas a couple hours prior to sunrise and increased intensity as the morning commute approached.
Every event with a place to put it; 7 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS ICT wrote it up.
A powerful low pressure system lifted out of the Desert Southwest and across the southern Plains during the early morning hours of February 12th, 2020. Snow overspread southern Kansas a couple hours prior to sunrise and increased intensity as the morning commute approached. Temperatures near or slightly above freezing allowed for a heavy wet snow, with much of it melting by the late afternoon hours.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Wichita, KS wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 12, 3:10 AM CST, 20 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Wichita KS 310 AM CST Wed Feb 12 2020 .SHORT TERM...(Today through Thursday night) Issued at 304 AM CST Wed Feb 12 2020 Main forecast highlights: 1) Accumulating snow chances early this morning through this evening. 2) Possible flash freeze tonight. 3) Much colder tonight through early Friday. 4) Much warmer Saturday-Monday. Two weather systems...one approaching from the northwest and another from the southwest, will phase today across Mid-America, supporting widespread snow, rain, and drizzle across the region early this morning through this evening. The snow accumulation forecast will be challenging, as surface wet-bulb temperatures today are in the 32-34 degree range. Thinking precipitation will start out as snow most places as the airmass wet-bulbs down due to initial dry low-levels. Could even see a brief period of sleet as the column cools, but this should be short-lived. By mid-late morning, thinking precipitation should transition to a light rain/drizzle/snow mix, as temperatures warm slightly and drier mid-level air approaches from the southwest. Should see a secondary round of rain/snow impact southeast Kansas later this afternoon and evening, as the main upper wave approaches from the southwest, with hints of instability possibly enhancing rain/snow rates. Another region of possibly enhanced snowfall this morning into the early afternoon is across portions of central KS, in response to a tightening mid-level baroclinic zone ahead of the shortwave approaching from the northwest. All-in-all, expecting widespread 1-3" wet/slushy snow accumulations, highest generally along and east of a line from Wellington to McPherson, and along and north of a line from Wellington to Chanute. Far southern/southeast KS will likely see less than one inch due to marginal surface temperatures, and also Russell and Lincoln counties where lift isn't nearly as great. Regarding the winter weather advisory today through midnight, will expand it to include Saline- Ellsworth-Barton to account for the tightening mid-level baroclinic zone. One more thing to consider with this system is a possible flash freeze from north to south this evening and tonight, as much colder air surges south in wake of a strong cold front. This will freeze any slushy snow or water on roads, highways, sidewalks, or parking lots. Strong north winds and much colder air in wake of this strong cold front will plummet wind chills below zero late tonight into Thursday morning for many across central, south-central and southeast KS. Thursday high temperatures will be well below normal in the 20s all areas, as Arctic high pressure spreads south across the Heartland. .LONG TERM...(Friday through Tuesday) Issued at 304 AM CST Wed Feb 12 2020 After a chilly start Friday, temperatures will begin to moderate by Friday afternoon into the 30s-40s, although stout south winds will make it feel like the 20s. The warming trend will continue over the weekend, with temperatures rising into the 50s to near 60 degrees Sat-Sun, as atmospheric thickness increases. Monday should be the warmest day, with widespread 50s-60s possible. Model consensus supports cooler weather returning by Tuesday, with highs back into the 30s-40s. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Wednesday night) Issued at 1140 PM CST Tue Feb 11 2020 Main change from 0000 UTC forecast, was to introduce snow at KGBD, with minor timing adjustments elsewhere. IFR conditions are expected to develop Wednesday morning shortly after onset of precipitation as lift/moisture increases. Temperature profile is challenging with a period of rain, snow and mix likely at various times for several locations. While heaviest/prolonged period of snow is anticipated at KCNU, some of the 0000 UTC models also suggest a secondary swath of enhanced lift somewhere in the KGBD-KHUT-KMPR K9K7-KGBD area. -Howerton && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 304 AM CST Wed Feb 12 2020 Despite relatively cool temperatures in the 30s-40s and humidity values in the 40s percent, could be looking at very high grassland fire danger Friday afternoon mainly west of the I-135 corridor, due to stout/gusty south winds developing in response to strengthening High Plains low pressure. Given marginal temperatures and humidity values, red flag/critical fire danger is not expected. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Wichita-KICT 38 13 24 12 / 100 30 10 0 Hutchinson 39 11 23 11 / 100 30 10 0 Newton 37 8 22 11 / 100 40 0 0 ElDorado 37 10 22 9 / 100 50 0 0 Winfield-KWLD 38 14 25 13 / 100 50 0 0 Russell 43 9 24 13 / 30 20 10 0 Great Bend 43 11 25 13 / 60 20 10 0 Salina 42 10 23 11 / 80 30 10 0 McPherson 39 9 23 10 / 90 40 10 0 Coffeyville 39 16 25 12 / 100 80 0 0 Chanute 36 12 22 9 / 100 80 0 0 Iola 36 10 21 8 / 100 80 0 0 Parsons-KPPF 38 14 24 10 / 100 80 0 0 && .ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory until midnight CST tonight for KSZ047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098-099. && SHORT TERM...ADK LONG TERM...ADK AVIATION...PJH FIRE WEATHER...ADK
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Wichita KS 640 PM CST Tue Feb 11 2020 KSZ032-033-047>053-067>072-082-083-091>096-098>100-130045- Russell-Lincoln-Barton-Ellsworth-Saline-Rice-McPherson-Marion-Chase- Reno-Harvey-Butler-Greenwood-Woodson-Allen-Kingman-Sedgwick-Harper- Sumner-Cowley-Elk-Wilson-Neosho-Chautauqua-Montgomery-Labette- 640 PM CST Tue Feb 11 2020 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of Central Kansas, South Central Kansas and Southeast Kansas. .DAY ONE...Tonight Light snow is expected to spread northeast across the region late tonight. Wet and slushy accumulations up to one-half inch are possible across southern Kansas by sunrise. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday Light snow will continue spreading northeast across the region Wednesday morning with a gradual transition to rain by Wednesday afternoon for many areas. Total wet and slushy snow accumulations of 1 to 2 inches are possible along and 40 miles either side of a line extending from Anthony to Wichita to Madison. Isolated amounts could approach 3 inches. Much colder and windy weather will arrive Wednesday night and Thursday. There could be a flash freeze on roadways, sidewalks and parking lots after the precipitation has ended with the arrival of the cold air over remaining water on any untreated surfaces. Thursday morning wind chills will likely be near zero. Strong and gusty south winds may support very high grassland fire danger Friday afternoon in central Kansas. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated tonight. && For a graphical version of this information, see our webpage at: https://weather.gov/crh/ghwo?sid=ict
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
7 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Snow amounts across the county ranged between 1 and 3 inches in depth.
Snow amounts across the county ranged between 1 and 3 inches in depth.
Snow amounts across the county ranged between 1 and 4 inches in depth.
Snow amounts across the county ranged between 1 and 4 inches in depth.
Snow amounts across the county ranged between 1 and 3 inches in depth.
Snow amounts across the county ranged between 1 and 4 inches in depth.
Snow amounts across the county ranged between 1 and 4 inches in depth.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Kansas in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Kansas, February 2020
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 872234, 872233, 872231, 872229, 872230, 872232, 872226.